Miramax

Miramax, LLC
Company type	Private
Industry	Film and television production and distribution
Predecessor	Miramax Films
Founded	December 19, 1979; 46 years ago in Buffalo, New York, United States
Founder	Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Jonathan Glickman (CEO, 2024–present)
Products	Motion pictures, television programs
Owner	beIN Media Group (51%), Paramount Global (49%)
Website	www.miramax.com

Miramax, LLC, previously known as Miramax Films, is an American independent film and television production and distribution company. It is jointly owned by beIN Media Group (holding 51%) and Paramount Global (with 49%). Based in Los Angeles, California, the company was established on December 19, 1979, by brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein.

Before being acquired by The Walt Disney Company on June 30, 1993, Miramax was a prominent force in producing and distributing independent cinema. In 2010, Disney divested Miramax to Filmyard Holdings, a consortium comprising Colony NorthStar, Tutor-Saliba Corporation, and the Qatar Investment Authority. Subsequently, in March 2016, beIN Media Group purchased Miramax and later sold a 49% share to Paramount Global on April 3, 2020.

Independent era (1979–1993)

Founded in 1979 in Buffalo, New York by Harvey and Bob Weinstein alongside executive Corky Burger, Miramax was named after their parents Miriam and Max. The company specialized in distributing independent films that mainstream studios deemed commercially risky.

Its initial significant achievement involved collaborating with British producer Martin Lewis to secure U.S. rights for Amnesty International benefit concert films. Miramax re-edited these into The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1982), setting a precedent for adapting international content for American viewers. Early distribution efforts included licensing films to Thorn EMI Video.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Miramax distributed landmark films such as Pulp Fiction, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, The Crying Game, and Clerks. It also produced acclaimed titles like Flirting with Disaster, Heavenly Creatures, and Shakespeare in Love. The company became a key player amid the independent film surge, responsible for seven films exceeding $100 million at the box office. Its highest earner, Chicago, generated over $300 million globally.

Miramax’s releases regularly received Academy Award nominations and wins, solidifying its stature through both critical acclaim and commercial performance.

Disney era (1993–2010)

On June 30, 1993, The Walt Disney Company purchased Miramax Films for $60 million while assuming more than $40 million in debt, marking Disney’s venture into the independent film sector. The Weinstein brothers continued managing Miramax with considerable independence until their exit on September 30, 2005. Despite this autonomy, Disney retained ultimate approval authority over releases, vetoing films such as Kids, Dogma, and Fahrenheit 9/11. Distribution responsibilities were split between Buena Vista Home Entertainment in certain territories and Miramax International elsewhere.

With budgets stabilizing, Miramax shifted focus from solely acquiring films to producing them as well. Until 2005, it also operated Dimension Films—created by Bob Weinstein to specialize in teen and horror genres—producing franchises like Scream and Scary Movie. The Weinsteins supported projects from emerging filmmakers including Robert Rodriguez, Gus Van Sant, and Quentin Tarantino, securing numerous Oscars. The studio pursued frequent releases to sustain market visibility.

In 1997, Miramax backed Peter Jackson’s efforts to develop the Lord of the Rings trilogy; however, Disney opposed a multi-film approach preferring a single installment. Jackson and Saul Zaentz declined this direction and sold the rights to New Line Cinema in 1998 for approximately $12 million; Miramax retained a 5% gross revenue share. This transaction enabled the eventual production of the successful trilogy.

Harvey Weinstein independently launched Talk magazine in 1998 without Disney’s consent, causing tension with then-CEO Michael Eisner. By 2003, Miramax transitioned toward mini-major status with fewer acquisitions but invested in higher-budget films like Cold Mountain. Although the Weinsteins asserted profitability, Disney president Robert Iger questioned their financial reporting practices in 2004.

After disputes primarily concerning distribution rights for Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, Disney ended its contract with the Weinsteins in March 2005. Control of Miramax passed to Disney’s Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group with reduced funding. The Weinsteins established The Weinstein Company (TWC), taking Dimension Films along; Miramax remained under Disney ownership. Daniel Battsek assumed leadership at Miramax with an emphasis on producing quality low-budget films. In Canada, Maple Pictures distributed Miramax titles until Alliance Films acquired it in 2011.

Miramax faced criticism for delaying Asian film releases and limiting legitimate DVD exports. On October 3, 2009, Disney announced a workforce reduction of 70% at Miramax alongside cutting annual film releases by half to three titles. By January 2010, marketing and administrative operations were consolidated into Disney’s Burbank studio; Daniel Battsek resigned during this restructuring.

Despite support from Disney Studio Chairman Dick Cook, Miramax became less prioritized under CEO Bob Iger who focused on branded mass entertainment aligned with theme parks and consumer products. Following Marvel Entertainment’s acquisition in 2009 and Rich Ross’s appointment as studio head, Miramax was relegated to a distribution label within Disney. On February 9, 2010, Disney confirmed plans to explore selling the Miramax brand; Iger indicated that investing in new Miramax productions no longer fit within Disney’s core business objectives.

Other ownership and company developments (2010–2019)

On December 3, 2010, Disney divested Miramax for $663 million to Filmyard Holdings, a consortium comprising Colony NorthStar, Tutor-Saliba Corporation, and the Qatar Investment Authority. This transaction encompassed a catalog of 700 films, ongoing development projects, and the rights to the "Miramax" brand. Mike Lang, formerly of News Corporation, was appointed CEO with a strategic focus on maximizing the value of the existing film library while maintaining original content creation.

Following the sale, several movies originally developed by Miramax, including The Tempest and Gnomeo & Juliet, were released under Disney’s Touchstone Pictures label. Meanwhile, distribution responsibilities for titles such as Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and The Debt transitioned to FilmDistrict and Focus Features respectively.

On December 16, 2013, Miramax entered into a collaboration with The Weinstein Company aimed at producing sequels and derivative works from its library, featuring films like Rounders and Shakespeare in Love.

In July 2015, Miramax was put on the market for $1 billion by Qatar and Colony NorthStar. Later that year, the Weinstein brothers expressed interest in reacquiring the studio through The Weinstein Company. However, on March 2, 2016, beIN Media Group—a subsidiary of Al Jazeera Media Network—completed the acquisition of Miramax.

Harvey Weinstein maintained an interest in merging TWC’s film assets with Miramax’s collection after beIN’s purchase. Following allegations against Weinstein in 2017, Miramax became one of several bidders vying for TWC in early 2018. By April of that year, Miramax and Lantern Capital emerged as frontrunners, with Lantern ultimately securing TWC's assets.

On June 7, 2019, beIN initiated a partial sale of approximately half of Miramax to fund expansion efforts. Lionsgate, Spyglass Media Group (holders of The Weinstein Company’s library), and Viacom surfaced as leading candidates. By August, Lionsgate and Viacom remained as final contenders; Lionsgate withdrew in September leaving Viacom as the sole bidder. Although Viacom exited negotiations in November, it reengaged following its merger with CBS Corporation to form ViacomCBS later that year.

ViacomCBS/Paramount Global period (2019–present)

On December 20, 2019, ViacomCBS (currently known as Paramount Global) acquired a 49% ownership stake in Miramax for no less than $375 million. This agreement granted Paramount Pictures exclusive global distribution rights to Miramax’s extensive film and television catalog. Additionally, both entities committed to jointly producing new projects inspired by this portfolio. The transaction was finalized on April 3, 2020.

On June 24, 2020, Miramax and ViacomCBS announced their inaugural joint production: The Turkish Detective, a television series adapted from Barbara Nadel's Cetin Ikmen novels.

On October 2, 2023, CEO Bill Block departed Miramax upon contract expiration to launch his own production firm, BlockFilm. In January 2024, negotiations began for Jonathan Glickman to assume the role of Miramax CEO; concurrently, Miramax planned to acquire his company Panoramic Media. On April 2, 2024, Glickman was officially appointed CEO as part of an agreement that included acquiring select film and television projects from Panoramic Media.

Miramax Family & Animation

Miramax Family Films functioned as the family-oriented branch of Miramax Films, originally launched on September 2, 1993, and ceased operations in 2006. The division was reestablished on March 18, 2019, separating into distinct family and animation units under the Miramax umbrella. Michael Lachance, with prior experience at DreamWorks Animation and Sony Pictures Animation, took on the role of executive vice president for the renewed division.

Film series

Title	Release Date	Notes
Hellraiser	1992–2005	Adapted from Clive Barker's novella; distributed via Dimension Films
Children of the Corn	1993–2001	Based on Stephen King's work; Dimension Films handled distribution
Three Colours	1993–1994	Distribution limited to the U.S.
The Crow	1994–2005	Distributed through Dimension Films
View Askewniverse	1994–2001; 2019	2001 release distributed by Dimension Films; 2019 installment was a co-production
Best of the Best	1995–1998	Distributed by Dimension Films
The Prophecy	1995–2005	Distribution managed by Dimension Films
Halloween	1995–2002; 2018–present	Early films distributed by Dimension Films; recent productions are co-productions
From Dusk till Dawn	1996–2000	Distribution through Dimension Films
Police Story	1996–1999	U.S. distribution via Dimension Films
Jungledyret Hugo (first two films)	Produced in 1998, released in 2005	Distribution confined to the U.S.
Scream	1996–2000	Distributed by Dimension Films
Operation Condor	1997	Distribution through Dimension Films
Mimic	1997–2003	Managed by Dimension Films for distribution
Bounty Hunters	1997–2001	U.S. distribution under Dimension Films banner
Air Bud	1998–2003	Distributed in the U.S. by Dimension Films; rights later sold to Disney post-2010 Miramax sale
She's All That	1999; 2021
Asterix and Obelix	1999–2002	Distribution limited to Italy; adapted from Goscinny and Uderzo's comics
Scary Movie	2000–2006; upcoming in 2026	Initially distributed by Dimension Films; forthcoming film to be released by Paramount Pictures
Dracula	2000–2005	Distributed via Dimension Films
Spy Kids	2001–2003	Distribution managed by Dimension Films
Bridget Jones	2001–2025	Based on Helen Fielding's novels; includes a combination of U.S. distribution and co-productions
Iron Monkey	2001–2002
Pokémon the Movie	2001–2004	Exclusively U.S. distribution; derived from The Pokémon Company franchise
Bionicle	2003–2005	Inspired by Lego's toyline
Kill Bill	2003–2004
Bad Santa	2003–2016	Initially distributed in the U.S. by Dimension Films; later releases were co-productions
Sin City	2005–2014	Adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novels; initial distribution through Dimension Films followed by co-production status

Top-Grossing Titles

Rank	Title	Year	Global Box Office Revenue

A selection of films distributed under Miramax Family includes:

Freddie as F.R.O.7 (1992)
Into the West (1993)
Tom and Jerry: The Movie (U.S. theatrical release only)
Go Hugo Go (1993)
Little Buddha (1994)
The Thief and the Cobbler (originally titled Arabian Knight) (1995)
Gordy (1995)
The NeverEnding Story III: Escape from Fantasia (U.S. release only) (1996)
Hugo the Movie Star (1996)
Microcosmos (1996)
How the Toys Saved Christmas (1997)
Wide Awake (1998)
The Mighty (1998)
Children of Heaven (1999)
Princess Mononoke (North American distribution exclusively) (2000)
Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar (2000)
Pokémon Heroes (2002)
Bionicle: The Movie – Mask of Light (2003)
Shaolin Soccer (2004)
Ella Enchanted (2004)
Finding Neverland (2004)
My Scene Goes Hollywood: The Movie (2005)

Miramax Television

Miramax Television operates as the television production arm of Miramax, established in 1987 with the objective of creating TV content derived from the Miramax film catalog as well as original ideas. Although involved in series production since its inception, the company officially launched its dedicated television division in 1998. Among its initial projects was a 1996 game show adaptation of What's My Line?. Mort Marcus held the position of chairman between 2001 and 2002 before leaving to revive Debmar Studios.

Filmography

Title	Years	Network	Notes
The World of David the Gnome	1987	T.V.E./Nickelodeon	English-language version; collaboration with CINAR for BRB Internacional
Wasteland	1999	ABC	Produced jointly with Outerbanks Entertainment
Clerks: The Animated Series	2000–2002	ABC (2000), Comedy Central (2002)	Adaptation of Clerks; co-produced alongside View Askew Productions and others
Project Greenlight	2001–2015	HBO, Bravo	Reality series co-produced with LivePlanet and Pearl Street Films
Glory Days	2002	The WB	Joint production with Dimension Television and Outerbanks Entertainment
Tokyo Pig	2002–2003	ABC Family	English dub; produced with Studio E Productions and Buena Vista Sound Services
Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee	2003	Food Network	Co-produced with Follow Productions
Project Runway	2004–2011	Bravo, Lifetime	Seasons 1 through 9; collaboration with Heidi Klum Productions and The Weinstein Company Television
From Dusk till Dawn: The Series	2014–2016	El Rey Network	Based on the original film; co-produced with Rodriguez International Pictures
Crow's Blood	2017	International distribution
Gone Baby Gone	2018	N/A	Unaired pilot adapted from the film; co-production with 20th Century Fox Television
Spy City	2020	Magenta TV, AMC+	Miniseries produced in partnership with Odeon Fiction
Project Greenlight: A New Generation	2023–present	Max	Revival series co-produced with Hoorae Media and 3 Arts Entertainment
The Turkish Detective	2023	Paramount+	Adapted from the novel; co-produced alongside Ay Yapim and Paramount Television International Studios
The Gentlemen	2024–present	Netflix	Based on the film; collaboration with Moonage Pictures
City of God: The Fight Rages On	TBA	Max	Adaptation of the film; co-production with O2 Filmes
Mimic	TBA	Apple TV+	Reboot series in development based on the film
The Henna Artist	TBA	Netflix	Adapted from the book; co-produced with Freebird Films
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice	TBA	Apple TV+	Adaptation of the play; produced with Happy Prince and ITV Studios
Untitled Confessions of a Dangerous Mind series	TBA	Apple TV+	Based on both film and book; co-produced with Paramount Television Studios
The Maidens	TBA	N/A	Adapted from the book; co-production with Stone Village
Bloom County	TBA	Fox	Based on the comic strip; collaboration with Fox Entertainment and Spyglass Media Group
Prêt-à-Porter	TBA	BBC	Film adaptation; development shifted from Paramount+ to BBC
The Gangs of New York	TBA	Paramount+, Hulu	Based on the book; currently in development with Martin Scorsese attached as director
Chocolat	TBA	Paramount+, Hulu	French-language adaptation; co-produced alongside Mediawan
Cop Land	TBA	Pluto TV	Series based on the film
The English Patient	TBA	BBC, Apple TV+	Adapted from the film
Shall We Dance?	TBA	Apple TV+	Based on the original film
The Holdovers	TBA	N/A	Co-production with Universal Television; adaptation of the film
The Christie Affair	TBA	N/A	Novel adaptation; produced jointly with The Gotham Group
The Immortals	TBA	N/A	Adapted from a novel; co-production with Mediawan
The Key Man	TBA	N/A	Based on a book; focused on international content
Untitled Halloween series	TBA	N/A	Collaboration with Trancas International Films to expand franchise into television

Miramax Television capitalizes on its rich film archive by transforming titles into television adaptations while also developing original projects. This strategy targets global streaming services and broadcast networks, broadening Miramax’s presence in both scripted and unscripted programming. Such efforts contribute to business expansion by diversifying income sources and fostering partnerships across significant industry entities.

External links